Conduit cleaning tool



A ril 26, 1938. E. M. JOHNSON CONDUIT CLEANING TOOL Filed May 3, 1937- a INVENTGR. V Emery 0447077775011 Patented Apr. 26, 1938 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE Y j I 2,115,266 g comers cLEANme TOOL Emery M. Johnson, Detroit, Mich. Application May 3, 1937, Serial No. 140,330

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a cleaning tool, and particularly to one for cleaning pipes such as sewer pipes or other similar conduits.

The invention is directed particularly to a tool 5 designed to be attached to the so-called plumber.s tape, or a plumbers chain for that matter, and to be projected into a pipe. The object of the invention is to provide an improved .tool which can be projected into a mass of material or sub stance which may be constricting or'plugging the pipe. To this end the tool hasp-rojecting tines which extend forwardly, relative to the direction in. which the tool is pushed into the pipe, and. are of a pointed nature so as toqpenetrate into a mass of plugging or constricting material. The tines are provided with projections or barbs which incline rearwardly, or in other words such as to catch into the constricting substance so as to pull the same out of position when the tool is pulled out of the pipe. The tines are shaped as L to provide runner-like portions upon which the tool may slide as it is pushed into the pipe, with the projecting ends of the tines located radially inwardly from the runner-like portions so that they will not catch on joints or the like of the pipe.

The body of the tool is preferably centrally disposed so that it is held spaced from the interior walls of the pipe by the runner-like portions, and this body is preferably relatively small in cross section so that the body itself may be projected into a mass of material which is constricting or choking the pipe. The tool is designed, and is of such proportions, that it may be projected around corners and bends, and to this end the body may include a spring portion which is flexible so that the same may bend or be distorted. The spring may be used where the body is relatively long, although the invention contemplates a rigid body, in which case the body may be made shorter in axial extent.

A further structure may be incorporated which is in the nature of a conically shaped helical winding of spring metal which is flexible so that it may shift to permit material to pass thereover as the tool is pushed forwardly into the pipe and which will serve to engage some of the constricting material for drawing the same out of the pipe. This conically shaped helically wound element may be positioned centrally of the tool and with its apex positioned forwardly relative to the direction of movement of the tool as it is pushed into the pipe.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevatlonal view of a tool constructed in accordance with the invention illustrating the same lying. upon the wall of a pipe and showing one tine in cross section.

Fig. 2 is a view of another form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken tially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view of a modified form illustrating the conically shaped helical spring element.

The wall of asewer pipe or other conduit is illustrated at I. In the form shownjin Fig. 1 the body comprises a piece 2 with a slot at 3 designed to receive the end of. a so-called plumbers" tape 4. These tapes are long lengths of ribbon-like metal of fairly thick stock so as to give a considerable rigidity and strength thereto. The end of the tape may be located in the slot and secured therein as by means of screws 5 arranged to pass through the tape which is apertured forthe purpose. A forward body portion is illustrated at 6 which preferably has a tapering forward end I. The two portions 2 and 6 may be connected and joined into the body portion of the tool by means of a coil spring 8 fastened at its ends to the respective pieces through the means of extending portions 9 and ID.

A plurality of tines are carried by the body member particularly the piece 6 as shown in Fig. 1. As illustrated in Fig. 3 there are four of such tines generally illustrated at l l. The end of each tine is secured to the body and extends in a direction radially outwardly and is formed preferably on a radius to provide a runner-like portion l2. This radius continues to a bend line l3 positioned radially inwardly from the runner portions, and from the bend line l3 the tines project forwardly and preferably have sharpened ends as shown at (4. While four of such runners are illustrated, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this number.

The tool also preferably has a central tine l5 projecting axially from the body and having a pointed end I6 which may project slightly beyond the ends I4 of the other tines. These tines are provided with projections or barbs inclined rearwardly, as illustrated at It, which may be formed by struck-out portions integral with the tines as illustrated. Each tine ll may have one barb, while the central tine may have four barbs, two positioned relatively forwardly and diametrically. opposite each other, and two positioned relatively rearwardly and diametrically opposite each other.

The form shown in Fig. 2 is generally of the same structure having the same tine arrangement, and the same reference characters are emsubstan- 'ployed as tothese parts. In this form, however,

the body does not incorporate the spring, and this body may be relatively short in axial extent. The body is illustrated at 26 and may be an integral piece of metal. in the same manner as it is secured in the form shown in Fig. 1. The forms shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are not referred to as being, one preferred and one not preferred, as some users may desire one form and other users may desire the other form, and each formmay be especially adaptable to different conditions of use.

The modified form illustrated in Fig. 4 has the same tine arrangement and the same reference characters are applied, but in this form a spring element I1 is illustrated as applied tothe center.

" Fig. 4-is viewed. Then, as the too-l is pulled rearwardly this element catches the material and aids in withdrawing the same.

In use, the tool is fastened to the end of a plumbers tape, or it maybe fastened'to the end of a plumbers chain, which-is a linked device designed to perform operations similar to a tape,

and then the tool is projected into the pipe. As it is fed forwardly into the pipe the runner portions [2 engage with and slide along the} interior surfaces of the pipe. In this'manner the projecting tines are held-spaced from the walls of the pipe so that they do not catch upon pipe joints or other projections. The sharpened tines may be projected into a mass of plugging or contricting material, some of which may pass the spring The tape is secured to this body element [1 in the manner already described where such spring is used. After the tool has been so projected into the pipe, and lodged so to speak, in the material, it may then be pulled out of the pipe by the use of the tape and the barbs on the tines and the spring-where such spring is used, catch into the material and withdraw the same from the pipe. Asillustrated in Fig. 3 the body The runner formation is of considerable advantage in that off-set pipe joints or other solid projections inside the pipe do not materially interfere with feeding the tool into the pipe. The radius of the runner I2 is such as to provide for sliding over such projections.

I claim:

A tool for cleaning sewer pipes or similar conduits comprising, a body portion adapted to be secured toa tape or chain for projecting the tool into a pipe, a plurality of tines carried by the body and extending radially outwardly therefrom,

said tines having radially outwardly positioned parts forming runner portions for sliding along the inner walls of the pipe, said tines having end 1 material as the tool is withdrawn from the piper EMERY M. JOI -llISOlT. 

